Electrical recording device.



PATENTED MAY 3, 1904.

J. H. JOHNSON.

ELECTRICAL RECORDING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 15. 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

NO MODEL.

a: new; mans co. PHOYD-L No. 758,756. PATENTED MAY 3, 1904.

J. H. JOHNSON.

ELECTRICAL RECORDING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 15, 1903.

Om a k a ON III,

UNITED STATES Patented May 3, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

ELECTRICAL RECORDING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 758,756, dated May 3, 1904.

Application filed July 15, 1903. Serial No. 165,600. (No model.) i

To all 1071/0722, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES H. JOHNSON, of

Louisville, in the county of Jefferson and State This invention is an improved electrical recording device especially designed for recording railway fares on street railways, but useful in many other cases where it is desirable to keep track of a number of different transactions. As applied to street-railways the apparatus is designed to record every cash fare, every ticket fare, and every transfer fare received by the conductor, and he may make the record from any desired number of different points on the car by simply pushing a properly-designated button or actuating any other simpledevice which will close an electrical circuit through the proper selecting and recording devices.

I Will now proceed to describe the apparatus as adapted for street-railway indicators,

- as above suggested, and will refer to the accompanying drawings to illustrate the same, but do not limit myself to the specific constructions of parts shown, as they can be considerably varied to suit the constructor or the particular visual indicator with which the re corder may be connected, while retaining all the essential characteristics of the invention. In said drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of the recording mechanism,the electrical circuits being indicated diagrammatically. Fig. 2 is a transverse section on line 2 2, Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a longitudinal section on line 3 3, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the escapement. I A A are opposite parallel bars mounted on brackets A Supported upon and between the bars A A is a frame composed of end plates B B and side rods 1) b. The end plates are flanged over the outer ends of the bars, and the parallel side rods are connected to the end plates. Rod 6 is insulated from plate B,

and the other rod, 6, is insulated from plate B, as indicated in the drawings, for a purpose hereinafter explained. Plate B, moreover, has a tooth B which is adapted to be engaged with any one of the notches A in bar A, so as to lock the frame against lateral movement thereon, and a spring B is arranged to hold the plate in engagement with bar A, but permit the plate being moved outward sufficiently to disengage its tooth from the notch and allow the frame to be shifted laterally to a new position;

Slidably hung upon and between rods Z) 5 i and guided thereby is a carriage O, having end flanges O, perforated for the passage of rods 5 Z). -On this carriage is mounted a pair of electromagnets D, which actuate the recording device and also the carriage-escapement. The armature D of the magnets is supported on a rock-shaft d, pivoted between adjustingscrews 0 on the carriage, and to this shaft is attached a' lever E, which extends beyond the end of the carriage and carries a markingfiuger E, which is shown merely as a threaded rod tapped through a threaded opening in the end of lever E and provided with a binding-nut c, as shown. The lever E actuates the escapement device of the carriage in one direction each time a record is made by the finger. The escapement mechanism shown comprises a vibrating arm F, connected to a rockshaft F, pivoted on a hanger O attached to the carriage. Said arm has a tooth F on its outer end adapted to engage with the teeth g of a ratchet-bar G, extending beneath the carriage parallel with rods 6 b and attached to the end plates B B, as shown, but insulated therefrom. The arm F underlies lever E,and when the latter is depressed by the energization of the magnets D it depresses arm F also. Beside tooth F is an alternately-acting tooth f which is pivoted on the end of a swinging arm f, pivoted to arm F so as to swinglaterally thereof, tooth f being so pivoted to the end of arm f that it can swing laterally thereof in one direction, but cannot pass back of the line thereof in the opposite direc- 9 tion and is normally held in alinement with lever f by spring The arms Ff are uplifted by a spring F, as indicated in the drawings, so as to normallyhold tooth f in engagement with one of the teeth of rack-bar Gr,

tooth F standing above the rack-bar, so that when arms F f are depressed by lever E tooth f 2 will be moved out of engagement with bar G and tooth F 'into engagement therewith, and when the arms are freed springs F lift arms F f, disengaging tooth E from the rackbar, but bringing tooth 7" into engagement therewith a tooth in advance of that just disengaged by tooth F. Consequently the carriage can advance one step at each depression of lever E and at each record made therein similar to the manner in which the carriage of a type-writer advances. When the carriage and frame are arranged vertically, the carriage will descend by gravity; but if arranged in other positions (not shown) springs maybe ar ranged to pull the carriage forward, as permitted by the escapement mechanism.

Beneath the carriage and in a plane parallel therewith is a table H, which is supported on brackets A and preferablyinsulated therefrom. On this table lays a movable plate H, which is provided with paper-holding clips h of any suitable construction, adapted to retain a sheet or sheets of paper S, which sheets are provided with ruled columns, which in example shown are in series of three, marked Tickets, Transfers, and Cash, respectively. When properly adjusted, the Tickets column comes under the marker E, and when a ticket fare is received the proper electrical connection is made to actuate the lever E and record a ticket. If a cash or transfer fare is received, the plate H and carriage are shifted laterally relatively to each other and in example shown by moving 'plate H laterally by suitable -magnets and connections before lever E is actuated, so that the fare will be recorded in the proper column. As shown, plate H is shifted,by means of magnet I or J, in one direction and is turned to normal position by a spring H. The armature I of magnets I is provided with a finger t', which engages a slotted plate H attached to plate H, and will move the plate laterally a certain distance when magnet I is energized. The armature J of magnets J is provided with a rod j, which loosely engages the slot in plate H and will move the plate it laterally a greater distance than magnets I. Magnets I are electrically connected to buttons representing trans fer fares and magnets J to buttons representing cash fares. The electrical connections will of course vary with the location and constructions of the parts, but are sufficiently indicated in the drawings, (see Fig. 1,) where K represents a battery or source of current. Z: is the main wire, leading from the battery to the different push-buttons, Z," is a return-wire leading from the bar A to the battery. 7% is a wire leading from the ticket'push-button T to the bar A. Consequently when a ticketbutton is pressed a circuit will be closed from the battery through wire 717 bar A, plate B, I

rod 7), through magnets D to red Z), plate B,

parts shown and described herein.

bar A, and wire Z1 back to battery, and the energization of magnets D causes the actuation of lever E and the registration of a ticket fare and the movement of the carriage C one step.

The magnets I are connected by wire I to transfer buttons i andv by wire 7? to bar A. Consequently when a transfer-button is pressed the electrical circuit is closed, first through magnets I and then through magnets I). Therefore plate his shifted before lever E is depressed, and consequently a record is made in the proper column of the transfer. \Nhen the button is released, the parts return to normal position. Magnets J are similarly connected by wire j to cash-buttons 7' and through wires j 1 to bar A. Conse quently when a cash-button is depressed the circuit is established through magnets J and I) in succession, so that plate 71. is shifted before lever E descends. Consequently the cash fare is recorded in the proper column. The magnets I and J may be appropriately termed selective magnets, as they select or determine the position of the record, so that a particular kind. of fare shall be registered thereon. If desired, a gong 0 may be mounted on the carriage and struck by a hammer 0, attached to the armature of magnets I), each time the leverE is actuated, thus giving audible notice of the fare registered.

From the foregoing description the operation of the device will be clearly comprehended. The possibilities of modification in electrical connections is obvious, and it is also obvious that the invention is not restricted to the specific construction and combinations of I have not deemed it necessary to show a casing for the apparatus nor to include herein a description or showing of mechanism for visually indicating the kind of fare registered nor for computing the total number of fares, these devices not being claimed herein, although ordinarily provided with fare-registering apparatus.

The apparatus as disclosed herein can make a permanent office record of each trip and the number and kinds of fare tendered.

Vhile I have shown but two selective armatures for shifting the rccordsheet, obviously one or more than two selective armatures can be used, according to the number of different fares or items it is desired to record in different columns.

The marking-linger E may be of a character to mark the paper like an ordinary recording instrument, or it may act like a typekey, marking the paper by striking an interposed carbon sheet or ribbon. None of these arrangements possess patentable novelty, and therefore I do not describe or show them all, but have merely indicated in the drawings a carbon-sheet interposed between the recordsheet and marking-linger, such carbon-sheet being removable and insertible with the record-sheets.

Having thus described my invention, what I therefore claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent thereon, is-

1. In a recording device. the combination of a laterally-movable frame, a carriage movable on said frame, and a marking device on said carriage, and mechanism for moving said carriage each time the marker is actuated, with a record-holder beside the frame, and selective devices for variously shifting said record-holder, substantially as described.

2. In a recording device, the combination of a frame, a carriage movable on said frame, a magneto-electric marking device on said carriage, and an escapementmechanism for, moving said carriage each time the marker is actuated, with a record-holder beside the frame, and selective electromagnetic devices for shifting said record-holder, substantially as described. 1

3. In a recording device, the combination of a frame, having side rods, a carriage slidably mounted on said rods, an electromagnetic marking device on the carriage, and means for transmitting electric currents through the rods and magnets, substantially as described- 4. In arecordlngdevice, thecombination of a laterally-ad ustable frame, having electrically-insulated side rods, a carriage slidably mounted on said rods, an electromagnetic marking devlce on the carriage and means for transmitting electric currents through the rods return movement, substantially as described.

6. In a recording device, the combination of a laterally-adjustable frame, having electrically-insulated side rods, a carriage slidably mounted on said rods, an electromagnetic marking device on the carriage, and means for transmitting electric currents through the rods and magnets, with an escapement mechanism for said carriage actuated by the electromagnetic marking device 'in one movement by a spring in the return movement, substantially as described.

7. In arccording device, the combination of a carriage, a marking device thereon, an escapement mechanism controlled by said marking device, a record-holder below the frame, selective devices for shifting said holder, and means for actuating the marking device independently of, or in connection with a selective device substantially as described.

8. In a recording device, the combination of a carriage, a magneto-electric marking device thereon, a record-holder below the frame, selective electromagnetic devices for shifting said holder, and means for transmitting electric currents through the magneto-electric marking device alone, or through a selective means for transmitting electric currentsthrough the magneto-electric marking device alone, or through a selective device and the marking device, substantially as described.

10. In combination, a carriage, electromagnets on said carriage, a lever carrying a marking device actuated by said magnets, an escapement mechanism on the carriage, a ratchetbar on the frame, said escapement mechanism being controlled by the marking-device, and means for transmitting electric currents through said electromagnets.

11. In combination, a laterally-adjustable frame, a ratchet-bar thereon, a carriage slidably mounted on said frame, electromagnets on said carriage, a lever carryinga marking device actuated by said magnets, an escapement mechanism on the carriage engaging the ratchet-bar on the frame, said escapement mechanism being moved one way by the marking-lever, and returned by a spring, and means for transmitting electric currents through said electromagnet.

12. In combination, a carriage, electromagnets on said carriage, a lever carrying a marking device actuated by said magnets, an escapement mechanism on the carriage, a ratchetbar on the frame, said escapement mechanism being controlled by-the marking device, and means for transmitting electric currents through said electromagnets, with a shiftable record-holder below the frame, electromagnetic devices for shifting said holder, and means for transmitting currents through the latter magnetic devices, substantially as described.

13. In combination, a laterally-adjustable frame, a ratchet-bar thereon, a carriage slidably mounted on said frame, electromagnets on said carriage, a lever carrying a marking device actuated by said magnets, an escapement mechanism on the carriage engaging the ratchet-bar on the frame, said escapement mechanism being moved one way by the markinglever, and returned by a spring, and means for transmitting electric currents through said electromagnet, with a shiftable record-holder below the frame, electromagnetic devices for shifting said holder, and

means for transmitting currents through the means for sending electric currents through said electromagnets, an adjustable recordholder below the frame, and means for shifting the holder laterally, substantially as described.

16. In a recording device,the combination of acarriage, an escapement mechanism for said carriage, an electromagnet mounted on the carriage, a marking device actuated by the said magnet, said device controlling the escapement mechanism; means for sending electric currents through said magnet, a plate below the frame, adapted to hold a record in position for marking by the said recording device, electromagnetic devices for shifting said plate, and means for transmitting electric currents through the electromagnetic shifting devices and the recording-magnet, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

17. In a recording device,the combination of a laterally-adjustable frame, a carriage there on movable longitudinally thereof, an escapement mechanism for said carriage moving therewith, an electromagnet mounted on the carriage, a rocking lever actuated by the armature of said magnet, and carrying a marking device. said lever controlling the escapement mechanism; means for sending electric currents through said magnet, a record-carrying plate below the frame, adapted to hold a record in position for marking by the said recording device, selective electromagnetic devices for shifting said plate varying distances, and separate means for transmitting electric currents through either selective electromagnetic device, and the recording-magnet, all substantially as and for tlre purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES H. JOHNSON. Witnesses:

JNo. J. SULLIVAN, GEO. H. SMYTHE. 

